Senior TMC leader and MP Mahua Moitra on Friday said she won't appear before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on October 31 in relation to the cash-for-query allegations levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and instead would appear before it after November 5.
On Thursday, Dubey told the Ethics Committee that it was an "open and shut" case and Moitra should be disqualified.
"Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints & suo moto affidavits also released to media. I look forward to deposing immediately after my pre- scheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4," she posted on 'X Moitra also posted the letter she had sent to the chairperson of the committee, where she said that she will be busy with post Vijay Dashami gatherings till November 4 in her constituency in West Bengal's Nadia district and requested to give her a date and time after November 5.
Moitra pointed out that she had written to the committee expressing "eagerness" to be given "a fair hearing and an adequate opportunity to defend myself against the false, malicious and defamatory accusations levelled against me by Shri Dubey and Shri Dehadrai." "The Committee against the order of natural justice, if I may humbly add- summoned and heard the complainants Shri Dubai & Shri Dehadrai on 26/10/2023 before allowing me, the alleged accused, a chance to be heard," she said. "I represent the state of West Bengal where Durga Puja is the biggest festival. I am already committed to attending numerous pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashami Sammelans/meetings (both government and political) in my constituency from 30th October to 4th November 2023 and cannot be in Delhi on 31st October 2023," she said. "Therefore, I request to be given time to appear in person before the committee at any date and time of the committee's choice after 5th November 2023. As a recent example, Shri Ramesh Biduri, MP who was summoned by the Privileges Committee on 10/10/23 requested more time since he had pre-fixed political meetings in Rajasthan and was accorded a similar courtesy by this same branch," she said. Moitra said she has an "impeccable record of personal integrity", adding that she is "a vocal member of the Opposition responsible for raising my voice against various corporate scams".
Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai gave "oral evidence" to the panel against the Trinamul Congress MP on Thursday, after which its chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar said the committee will also seek assistance from the ministries of home affairs and IT in probing the allegations.